How to manage Graves' disease in women of childbearing potential

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader How to manage Graves' disease in women of childbearing potential Via radioactive iodine Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2022 Feb 22. doi: 10.1111/cen.14705. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The management of Graves' Disease (GD) in women of childbearing potential has multiple specific complexities. Many factors are involved, which differ at the various stages from preconception, conception, first trimester, later pregnancy, postpartum and lactation, with both maternal and foetal considerations. The incidence and significance of the risks incurred from antithyroid drugs (ATDs) i n pregnancy have been re-evaluated recently and must be balanced against the risks of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism during childbearing years. Contraception is advised until hyperthyroidism is controlled. ATD cessation should be considered in those who are well controlled on low dose therapy before conception and in early pregnancy. Advice on iodine supplementation does not generally differ in those with GD. Radioiodine (RAI) is contraindicated from 6 months preconception until completion of breast feeding. In all women who have a history of GD, monitoring of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) is strongly recommended during pregnancy, and if elevated, foetal monitoring, and assessment of thyroid function in the neonate are required. Of note, RAI increases TRAb for up to a year, making this treatment option even less attractive in this patient group. A small amount of ATD is transferred into breast milk but low doses are safe during lactation. Routine periodic thyroid function testing is recommended in remission to detect postpartum GD recurrence. We present our approach to the Clinical Question 'How to manage GD in women of childbearing potential?' This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. PMID:35192205 | DOI:10.1111/cen.14705 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.